Richard Franklin VANDER VEEN

(1922-2006)

VANDER VEEN, Richard
Franklin, a Representative from Michigan; born in Grand
Rapids, Kent County, Mich., November 26, 1922; attended the public
schools; graduated from Muskegon High School, Muskegon, Mich.,
1940; B.S., University of South Carolina, Columbia, 1946; LL.B.,
Harvard Law School, 1949; enlisted in the United States Navy
January 1941, served until 1946, with active duty in the South
Pacific Theater; also served in the Korean Conflict, lieutenant
(jg.), 1950-1952; admitted to the Michigan bar in 1949 and
commenced practice in Grand Rapids; chairman, Michigan Fifth
District Democratic Party, 1959; delegate, Michigan State
Democratic conventions, 1962, 1964; chairman, Michigan State
Democratic convention, 1960; president, Vander Veen, Freihofer
& Cook, P.C.; elected to East Grand Rapids Board of Education,
1969-1974; served on the Michigan State Mental Health Commission,
1958-1963, and Michigan State Highway Commission, 1964-1969;
elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-third Congress, by special
election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United
States Representative Gerald R. Ford, and reelected to the
Ninety-fourth Congress (February 18, 1974-January 3, 1977);
unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress
in 1978; unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States
Senate in 1978; member, Michigan State Waterways commission, 1984
to present; president, Resource Energy Company; died on March 3,
2006, in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present